Combined ironing and folding machine



O. W. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE Oct. 5, 1943.

Original Filed Dec. 21, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR QSCAR W. ESQ? Y- BY fims Oct. 5, 1943.

O. W. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING' AND FOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 21, 1938 a Sheets-Shet 2 FIG-3 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1943. o. w. JOHNSON ,3

COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

Original Filed D80. 21, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JOHNSQN ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 5, 1943. o. w. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1938 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JQHNSON A TORNEYS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N Q. in 0. NToE m m T m N 5 W Mm NR 0 Y Q B j P w um mmw i .w 3 .3: iii 9 f (II I N oToE f R wh g A K 8 mm 3 m.

Oct; 5, 1943. o. w. JOHNSON I COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 21, 1938 Oct. 5, 1943. o. w. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE SSheets-Sheet 6 INVEN'QI'OR OSCAR W. JOHNSON BY mms I g Original Filed Dec Oct. 5, 1943'.

O. W. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE Original File d Dec. 21, 1938 ,s She ets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JOHNSON BY ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1943. o. w. JOHNSON COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 21

g Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR N O S N H O J W R A C S O Patented Oct. 5, 1943 f COMBINED IRONING AND FOLDING MACHINE Oscar Johnson, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, .a corporation of Qhio Original application December 21, 1938, Serial No.

' 1940, Serial No. 333,071

4 Claims. (01. 38-21 This invention relates to combined ironing and folding machines such as are used'for ironing and folding flatwork in-- laundries,particularly sheets, table cloths, spreads and-the like.

This application is'a division of my copending' application Serial No. 246,928, filed, December 21, 1938, which became Letters Patent No. 2,275,964, granted March 10,1942. a

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel combination between a folding machine and an ironing machine whereby flexible endless members used for conveying'work through the ironer actuate the devices of the folding machine so as-to provide exact synchronism between the operations of the two ma-' of which are connected with an ironing machine and others with ,a folding nachine, and a measuring device operated by the overlapping portions of the endless devices for measuring the workpiece preparatory to setting the folding machine to produce predetermined folds in the workpiece. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a combination between an ironing ma-. chine and a folding machine wherein flexible endless devices are used for conveying the workpiece through each machine, folding devices driven by the flexible endless devices of the ironing machine.

A further object is to provide ,coacting flexible endless work carriers, some connected with the ironing machine and others connected with the folding. machine, a measuring device for the workpiece cooperating with the flexible endless Divided and this application May 3,

ingbroken out to expose underlying parts, the central portion of the mechanism being omitted; "Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine as viewed from the 'right in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 22, Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan view on' approximately the line 33, Fig. 2, the central .portion of the machine in this view being broken away, with the sides brought together to illustrate more clearly a portion of the drive mechanism; 1

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram illustrating a control circuit for the solenoids for controlling the timing mechanism; I

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on approximately the line 55, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing but one half of the machine, to wit, that half of the machine which is to the left when viewed from the position of the receiving operator standing at the bottom of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrat ing the corresponding right-hand half ofthe machine; J

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on approximately the line T-l, Fig. 6, looking'in' the direccarriers, and mounting means for the measur v. ing device arranged so as not to interfere with invention will appear from the accompanying description and. drawings and theessentialfeatures thereof will be summarized in the c1aims.-

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a folding machine embodying the invention, parts hetion of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 88, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; 1

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic'side elevation illustrating both'the' folding machine and the flatwork ironer with which it is associated, the diagram showing the arrangement and path of travel of theconveying and driving ribbons;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the measuring apparatus shown in Figs. 13 and 14';

Fig; 11 is a detailfragmental plan View of the measuring apparatus, with the floating ribbon supporting structure or pressure device omitted;

Fig. 12 is'a detail sectional elevation on the line l2-l2, Fig. 10," looking in the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. 13 is a detail fragmental side elevation, showing a portion of each of the flatwork ironer and the folding machine, and the connecting means therebetween, as well as the support for the measuring apparatus; f

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side elevation of the measuring apparatus shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail View, showing one f a Pair of duplicate devicesfor initiati g eration of the, timer mechanisms; i

Fig. 16 is a view of the mechanism shown "in the folding blade operating mechanism, the view being taken substantially on--the line Ill-l9, Fig.2; I

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view on approximately the line 26-40, Fig. 19, lookingfih the I direction of the arrows;

Fig. 21 is a detail sectional view on the'line 2l--2l,Fig. 20; H Fig. 22 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, show:

ing a modified arrangement of control and op-.

erating mechanisms utilizing fluid pressure;

Fig. 23 is a detail plan view of one of the timing devices, showing the'coupling means for operation of the valves, the view being taken on approximately the plane of theline 23-23, Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid control circuits for the operating mechanism 'of the machine shown' in Figs-22;

Fig. 25 is a detail view illustrating a; further modification of mechanism for initiating operation of the timer; and p H Fig. 26 is a detail sectional view on the line 2626, Fig. 22-. T,

The machine illustrated in the drawings is what may be called a two lane machine in that it has duplicate mechanisms arranged in order along its left and right halves, forming two lanesalong which two separate and distinct streams of flat articles to be folded may travel for separate folding, the mechanisms on the right lane being controlled by th articles travelling therein and those on the leftlane by articles travelling therein. Because the mechanismsare duplicate, description of one will suffice for both but to distinguish them in the drawingstheparts in the left lane will be designated by numerals followed by the suffix a and those inthe right lane by numerals followed bythe sumx lb, wherever that is necessaryor desirable. V f

The folding machine is here shown in combination with a flatwork ironer of a known type, so

that the flat articles ironed in the ironing. ma-

chine are deliveredautomatically to the folding machine to be folded'thereby. Fig. 9 illustrates a folding machine marked generally 30, made "and operated according to the present invention and associated with a flatwork ironerfof standard to the left between the rolls and chest 35fthereof, I

and around the end of the chest and back to the right along its under surfacebetween the chest and the upper stretch of endless apron "36 which carries them back to the feeding end of the ironer whence they arereturned'tothedelivery end of .the ironer to'the'left between the lower stretch of apron '36 'and'the "upper stretch of endless conveying ribbons 31; Said ribbons travel over rolls 38 and 39 at "the feeding end of the ironer, under rolls 40' and? through the measuring'device generally indicated at "42, over a."

'53 of the folding machine.

roll 43 supported by brackets 44 on the folding machine, around and under a roll 45 of the folding machine, over a roll 46 thereof, beneath a roll 41 thereof, over a roll 48 and beneath rolls 49, 50 and 5|. As the articles to be folded, lying between the upper stretch of the ribbons 31 and the lower stretch of the endless apron 36, pass beyond the last apron supporting roll 52 of the ironing machine and into the measuring device 42, they travel beneath endless tapes or ribbons These ribbons 53 travel around rolls 54 and 55 of the measuring device, over'the roll 43, around roll 56 and over a tension roll 51. Short endless tapes 58 (Fig. 10) also travel around the rolls 54, 55.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the folding machine comprises a first or primary folding device marked generally 59 (Figs. 2 and 22), a second folding device 66, operating mechanisms for the two folding devices marked generally and re-- spectively 6| and 62, a timing mechanism marked generally 63, for controlling operation of the folding mechanisms, and a mechanism generally indicated at 64,-sensitive to the operation of the measuring device 42, and adapted to control the timingmechanism to cause it to produce folds of the article in proportion to its length, whatever may be its absolute length. Duplicate mechanisms are provided, as stated, for the two lanes of the machine, all mechanisms in one lane being independent of those in the other lane, except ashereinafter noted, so that descriptions of the mechanisms of one lane will 'sufiice for both. The various mechanisms will be described in the order of progress of the work through the machine.

' Measuring apparatus The measuring apparatus (of which there are two, 'one for each lane) is best illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14, inclusive. It comprises a housing '65, Fig. 12, generally triangularly shaped in cross section, the upper face 66 of which is curved or arcuate in form wherethe lower tapes 3! coming from the ironing machine and supporting the article pass'along it beneath the tapes 53 of the folding machine. This housing extends the full width of the machine and issupported at one end upon brackets secured to arms 6'! pivoted at 68-to the brackets 44 of the folding machine.

These arms at their opposite ends carry rollers '69 working in slots "Ill in the adjustable apron carrying brackets H of the ironing machine. The brackets II are pivotally mounted at '12 on the ironing machine frame to permit raising and lowering movement. When these aprontensionv ing brackets of the ironing machine are lowered to release aprontension, as is customary in flatworkironer operationduring arest period or at the end of a days operation, the rollers 69 ride in the slots 10 and the arms 61 turn about the pivotal connections 68. This type of connection The several flngers'in each lane are all-mounted upon a common shaft I6. Fingers 15, in their normal position, extend through the spaces between adjacent ribbons 3! and therefore cross the path of travel of the articles moving through the machine-and held between tapes 31 and 53, so that said articles by their travel through the machine will depress the fingers for the purpose of instigating operation of the timing mechanism in a manner later to be described. a

To hold the tapes 53 down upon the tapes 31 and the articles travelling between the two sets of tapes, I provide what may be termed a floating pressure device, including the two rolls 54, 55, Figs. 9 and 12, supported for rotation in a frame 11, having gudgeons I8 at its ends which ride in slots I9 in upwardly extending portions of the brackets which support the housing 65. Ribbons 53 engage the ribbons 31, so that the two sets of ribbons provide holding means which grasp the work between them withfloating pressure sufficient to advance, the work, to drive rolls.

54, 55 and ribbons 53 and to insure that the fingers I5 are depressed by the article passing through the machine. Travel of the gudgeons I8 in the slots I9 takes care of any excess motion required when the ironing machine brackets II are lowered during rest periods or at the end of a day.

Each finger carrying shaft 16 operates a conrolling switch (Fig. 14) which may be of-.any

suitable form but isshown as of the quick make and break type always biased to open circuit position. Each measuring device at one end is provided with a switch housing 80 into which extends the end of the shaft I8 (see Fig. '10), which within the housing has pinned to it a lever 8I, alongside of which, and freely rotatable on the shaft, is a latch member 82.

Lever 8I has a pin 83 working in a notch in the lower end of the latch, the upper end of which latch engages a projection 84 on an arm 85 carrying the yielding switch contact 88 which cooperates with a stationary switch contact 81. A compression spring 88 lies between the arm portions of the levers 8| and 85.

In operation when one or more of the fingers I5 are depressed by an article passing through the machine, the shaft I6 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, Figs. 12 and 14. At first,

' the upper end of the latch 82, where it lies beneath the lug 84 prevents rotation of the switch contact carrying lever 85, so that the spring 88 is compressed until the pin 83" engages the shoulder at one end of the notch in the latch lever 82. 'Ihereupon said latch lever begins to turn and finally moves out of the way and from beneath the lug 84. Thereupon the stored ener y in spring 88 immediately becomes effective and quickly turns lever 85 and brings the contacts 86, 81 together or to closed switch position. This is accomplished without fullyexpending all energy stored in the spring 88 so that when the fingers I5 are released, spring 88 supplies energy to return the parts to normal position, including return of lever 8! so far that its pin 83 engages the shoulder at the other end of the notch, quickly returning latch 82 to its former position and breaking the connection by suddenly raising the switch arm 85 to open circuit position.

In series with the switch 86, 81, I may include an auxiliary switch in the form of a simple snap switch, marked generally 89, Fig. 14. This switch 89 in Fig. 14 is shown mounted on the switch casing 80, so that it is at oneend of the measuring device and consequently between the ironing and folding machines, but'obviously switch 89 physically might be located in any suitable position such as at the feeding end of the ironing machine, available for actuation by the feeding operatorwithout moving from her position, as

will-be readily understood. Mechanism for initiating operation of the timer Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the electrical control circuit for the two lanes of the machine. ;It will be noted that each switch 86, 81 is in a circuit in series with an. electrically actuated control device,such-as the solenoid 90. Since the switches 89 are normally-closed and the switch 86, 811s normally open, it is apparent that the solenoid 90 is deenergized except when the switch 86, 81 is closed by passage of an article through the measuring device 42' with subsequent depression of the fingers 15. Energization of the solenoid 90 actuates the mechanism "generally marked. 64 for initiating operation of the timer 63. This mechanism is best .shown in Figs. 13, 15 and1l6, andoperates briefly in the following manner. a

,When solenoid 90 is energized by closing of the appropriate switch 86, 81, bell crank lever 9|, 92 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, Fig. 15. Its arm 92 coacts with link 93 as a toggle, thereby rotating the bell crank lever 94 clockwise about its pivotal shaft mounting 95, and moving the toothed block 96 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 91. vThis wheel 91 as seen in Fig.

16, is continuously rotated by means of friction drive from sprocket 98 which is yieldingly pressed against wheel 91 by a flange 99 yieldingly pressed by spring I80. The sprocket '98 is driven by chain IOI as will later appear. 'Since the ratchet wheel 91 continuously rotates, member 96 moves in a clockwise direction, carrying with it lever I02, which is pinned to shaft I03 and therefore rotates said shaft and lever I04 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 15. The timing mechanism as will later appear limits the movement of these parts, a movement which is initiated by the production of engagement between block and ratchet wheel 91, and which is completed by ratchet wheel rotation and after the timer has been started the sprocket 98 continues to rotate but the coupling slips. The parts remain in their new positions until the solenoid 90 is deenergized,

when the spring I05 returns the parts to their normal positions shown in full lines, Fig. 15, disengaging thefblock 96 from the ratchet wheel Timer mechanism The timer mechanisms, of which there are two, onefor each lane of the machine, are best shown in'Figs; 2, 5, 6, l7 and 18. Generally speaking, they are similar in construction and general principle and operation to those shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,034,040, granted March 17, 1936, excepting that the mechanism is considered simplified, here providing only half and quarter folds, or no fold, whereas the mechanism of the prior patent included an additional selection of one-third and two-third folds, if desired, in addition to which the timer mechanism hereis entirely mechanically operated.

The timer initiating mechanism 64, when ent-ergized, produces swinging motion of the arm I04,

mechanism 62 of Figs. .19 follows.

-I I to release a pair of arms I09, and simultaneously to-establish driving connections for each of these arms in the manner generally described in my. prior patent referred to, to move one of them atdouble the speed of the other. So long i as the articleis travelling through the measuring device 42 and thereby is holding depressed the fingers I5, the arms I09 are moved along, one at double the speed of the other, so as to eventually spacethem apart as indicated at X and Y on Fig. 17. But when the rear edge of the article releases the measuring fingers I5; the mechanism .64 releases link 'IOS so that the timer cams I08 and H0 return to normal position under influence of the-stored energy in springs III. Thereupon the two arms Xand Ymove together at the' same speed as taught in my prior patent. Their relative position has been established by the length of the article so as to produce a double fold thereof, that is,'first a half fold and second a quarter fold." The operating finger at the end of arm X eventually engages an operating arm H2, so as to rotate shaft H3, thereby initiating operationof the first folding device 59 to produce the first fold in the article travelling in this lane. The finger at'the end of timing arm Y moves in the path of a second operating arm II4 so as to turn shaft H5, thereby'initiating operation of the second folding device 60 to produce the second fold of the article, which by that time has reached'the proper position for its second fold.

f Folding blade operating mechanism .59. by couplingthe same with a constantlydriven shaft I18, while the mechanism 62 serves to drive the. folding device Ruby connecting the same witha constantly rotating drive shaft 9. The .and operates as Referring to Figs; 19 and 20, shaft'l I9 has secured-thereto one member I20 of a jaw clutch. The other member IVZI of the clutch forms part of a'sleeve I22 freely rotatable on the shaftand embodying a cam portion I23 adapted to actuate a follower I24 mounted upon an arm I25 pinned to a shaft I26 which in turn is providedwith arms I21. for supporting the folding plate I28; Shaft I 26 and the folding blade assembly carried thereby arenormally biased to the unoperated position shownin Fig. 2 bya-coil spring I29. Said .spring therefore yieldinglyholds the .follower I24 against cam I23 so'thatwhen the cam is rotated the folding bladeoscillates betweenthe unoperatedposition ofF'ig. 2 and a position in .whichitadvances an article. into engagement between-the folding rolls I30 and I3I. Sleeve I122 hassecured 'to .itasecond cam member I32 adapted to actuate a roller I33 on an arm .I34 nounted inlaisuitable when the shaft II! is oscillated by movement of its coupling shaft M6, the arm I34 is rotated clo kwise, F 20. W t d aw n o l 3 from engagement with the cam member I32. Upon withdrawal, a spring vI31 ca es sleeve I22 to engage-clutch member IZI with the continuously rotating clutch member I20. Since the oscillation .of shaft I I1 is but momentary, accomplished by movement of the arms X or Y of the timer (see Fig. 17) and their operation of arms H2 and H4, the normal position of the roller I33 is restored before the shaft H9 and cam I23 have made a complete revolution, so that as the cam member I32 returns the operating face thereofengages roller I33 and cams the sleeve I22 to the left in Fig. 119, disengaging the clutch members I20, I2I .and the cam thereupon stops rotating.

An article to be folded enters the folding machine between the tapes 3'! and 53 and passes around roll .45. Assuming the article is being folded in one lane only of the folding machine,

if no fold is to be made, the switch 8.9 for the one lane will be in open position and the article will pass down plate I38 to conveyer tapes I39 and so to table I40. If folds are to be made, the same switch '89 controlling the folding mechanism 59 for the lane involved will be closed and when the appropriate timing arm actuates the folding mechanism the blade of folding device 59 will move the article between the pair of folding rolls ,56, I41. Then when the once folded article reaches the proper position-on plate I42 with respect to the blade I28 .of folding device 60, another timer arm actuates thesecond folding mechanism to carry the article between the folding rolls I30, I3.I whence it passes along plate .-I43 to table I44. Either or both of switches 89 will be closed, depending on whether the width of the article issmall enough to enable it to be folded in a single lane or is great enough to require a portion or all of the widthof the two .lanes combined,

Driving mechanism The rolls 45, 46 are covered with fabric material to provide a frictional coeff cient for driving engagement between said rolls and tapes-31, which'constitute the sole driving means for the folding machine mechanism. Tapes 31, of course,

aredriven by the driving rollers in the ironing machine. Consequently all parts of the ironing machine and folding machine turn inaccurately timed relation with each other. A drive chain ;-I 45 travels over a sprock t on roll 46, under a .sprocket on roll :45, over an idle sprocket I46, under a sprocket on each of rolls I41 and I30, yovergan idle sprocket L41, under va Sprocket on shaft I,I 9 over a double sprocket I48, and under .a sprocket on shaft 1 I8 back tothe sprocket on ;1 Q1 1 4 5. .Roller 5J5 is driven from roller [4| and .roller BI is driven from roller I30. The double .sprocket hls is connected b a chain I49 to a sprocket on roll I50 for driving the ribbon conveyer. I30. Each end of the shaftof roll I50 is provided with asprocket to receive a chain I5I passing around an idler I52 and thence to double sprockets I53 mounted on stub shafts I54, the smallerisprockets of the double sprockets I53 being connected by chains I55 passing aroundidlers I56 to sprockets I51 which rotate freely on the shafts I58.of the two timer mechanisms. These timer shafts have pinned thereto ratchets I59 :(Figs. 2 and3) cooperating with spring pawls I60 -carried by-the respective sprocket wheels. This .constitutesa pawl and ratchet drivefor each of the two timer shafts assuring that they will be driven only in the proper direction and avoiding possible back drive which might cause damage. Upon each end of roll 46 is a sprocket connected by the chain IIII to the sprocket 98 of the respective timer initiating operating mechanisms, and constituting the drive therefor (see Figs. 2, 15 and 16). I I

If articles are fed through the folding machine which are wider than a single lane, the folding blade mechanisms of the two lanes may be coupled together for operation by one set of timer fingers, the switch 89 of the other timer mechanism being moved to open position. This is accomplished in the present machine by coupling together the shafts II! respectively of the first or second folding units in the two lanes so that they are all operated or controlled by one timing mechanism.

If further information is necessary or desirable for theoonstruction and operation of the folding machine, reference may be had to my above named copending application.

Modifications Figs. 22 to '26 show a modified form of machine using fluid pressure, such as compressed air, foroperatih-g the various control and operating parts. For the most part the same apron, belt and chain and sprocket drive mechanism is used, such as for the measuring, timing and like mechanisms. The measuring fingers 15, however, operate a valve I6I normally biased closed,

to produce connection from a source of supply I62 to the piston and cylinder servomotor I63. This servomotor is connected to the mechanism 64 for initiating operation of the timer in the same manner as the form shown in Fig. 2, sothat servomotor I63 in every sense is a substitute for the solenoid 96 of the main form.

The folding mechanisms 59, 60 are operated 7 directly by servomotors I64 and I65 respectively. These servomotors receive pressure fluid through valves I66 and I61, the stems of which are coupled directly with the arms I I3 and H5 respectively, of the timer mechanism. Said valves are biased to normal exhaust position by springs. It will be noted from Fig. 24 that valves I66 and I6! are two-way valves serving in unoperated position to connect servomotors I64 and I65 to exhaust and when operated 90 connecting the servomotors to the source of supply I62. As shown in Fig. 26 the shafts I26 of the folding blades in two lanes may be coupled together for the folding of wide articles by a pin I68 entering suitable bores in the arms I69 and I10.

Fig. 25 shows an arrangement in which the piston rod of the servomotor I63, instead of actuating a timer initiating mechanism, is connected directly to arm III of the timer mechanism, so as to rotate shaft I'I2 thereof to control the pins I61 in a manner analogous to the control already described in connection with Figs. 15, 16 and 17. Further description of this modification will be found in my aforesaid copending patent application.

Operation In describing the operation of the machine as a whole, let us assume first that articles to be folded are of a width adapted to be accommodated by the width of one of the two lanes of the machine. In this case each lane operates as an individual machine controlled by the several articles which successively are introduced into and travel along said lane.

In either lane,.as the forward edgerof an article reaches the measuring mechanism 42 ,and depresses the measuring fingers I5, rotating shaft I6, Figs. 12 and 14, the switchmechanism 86, 81 closes, energizingsolenoid 90, Fig. 15. Energization of this solenoid sets into operation the timer initiating mechanism shown in Figs. 15 and 16, resulting in pulling over the rod I66 to set into operation the timer mechanism, Fig. 1'7, causing two of its arms to travel around with differential drive and'to set the machine for producing the proper folds in this case half and quarter folds. When the rear edge of the article reaches fingers 15, the switch 86, 81 opens,- deenergizing solenoid 96, and rod. I06 returns, and the proper lines of fold have been selected.

When the article which energized solenoid 96 reaches the position on the plate I38 as selected by adjustment of the timer parts, the finger on arm X, Fig. 17, engages finger IIZ producing operation of the mechanism for actuating the first folding device 59, causing this folding blade to advance and move the article into contacting position between the afolding rolls. 56, MI Whereupon the once-folded article passes beyond said rolls tothe plate I42 and down along the same. When the once-folded article reaches the proper position on plate I42, as determined by the setting of the timer parts, the finger on arm Y, Fig. 17, engages finger II4, initiating operation of the second folding mechanism 60, causing its blade I28 to advance and move the oncefolded article into contacting position between the folding rolls I38, ISI for the second or double fold, whereupon the double-folded article passes beyond said rolls to plate I43 and slides down along the same to the delivery table I44.

If it is desired that an article shall pass through the folding machine unfolded, the snap switch 89 for the proper lane is moved to open position, which opens the circuit to its corresponding solenoid 99, Fig. 4, so that closing of the switch 86, 81 has no effect thereon. In this case the article conveyed by ribbons 31 moves downwardly on plate I38 without fold until it reaches the conveyer I39, the ribbons of which carry it to the lower delivery table I40, Fig, 2.

The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 22 to 26 is similar to that just described. When the forward edge of the article depresses fingers I5, valve I6I is opened, energizing servomotor I63 which operates the timer initiating mechanism and sets it into operation, advancing itstiming arms X, Y as in the main form. When the rear edge of the article releases the fingers 'I5, servomotor I63 is exhausted through a small port in its wall, not shown, the timer is released,

and the double-fold position of its operating arms has been established. When the first finger X is actuated, shaft H3 is oscillated to open valve I66 thus energizing servomotor I64 which operates the first folding mechanism 59 and produces the first fold in the article. Likewise when the second finger Y is operated shaft H5 is turned, opening valve I61 and energizing servomotor I65 to operate the second folding mechanism 60 to produce the second fold in the article.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a flatwork ironer, flexible endless members for conveying work through the ironer, means for causing travel of said endless members, a folding machine embodying work feeding and folding devices, and means for operating the devices of the folding machine to feed and fold articles passing therethrough, said last actuated solely by said flexible endless members.v

2. Incombination, a flatwork ironer, endless apron members for conveying. work through the i-roner, means forcausingtravel of said endless members, adjustable brackets supporting the delivery and of said apron members, a folding machine driven by said apron members to fold an article passing through the machine, a measuring device controlling said folding machine to fold an article according to its length, and supportsfor sai'dmeasuring device pivoted to the folding machine and movably connected to said brackets, so that said ironer and foldingmachine may remain a fixed. distance apart and said measuring-device may move with adjustment of said brackets.

3. In combination, "a flatwork' ironer, endless apron members for conveying work through the ironer, means for causing travel of said endless members; adjustable brackets supporting the delivery end of said apron members, a folding machine driven by said apron members to-fold an article passing through the machine, a measuring device controlling said folding machine to fold an article according to its length, and supports for said measuring device. pivoted to the folding machine and movably connected to said brackets, said folding machine including endless and endless belts being arranged to both move past the measuring device and tov support the work between them, so that said aprons and endlessbelts and measuring device may remain in operative relation during adjustment of said brackets. v

4. In combination, ironing and folding machines for' handling relatively long articles such as sheets, said machines being arranged with the discharge end of said ironing machine adjacent the receiving end of said folding machine, feeding means in said folding machine for passing articles therethrough, a folding device in said folding machine for folding articles passing therethrough, endless flexible members for conveying articles through said ironing machine, an article measuring device adjacent said endless members and responsive to an article on said endless members, and means for actuating said folding device responsive to said measuring device, said endless members extending from the ironing machine beyond the measuring device to and at least part Way through the folding machine and thereby serving to convey articles in both machines.

' OSCAR W. JOHNSON. 

